US citizens resident in Ireland to vote in 2012 Global Democratic Primary

US citizens resident in Ireland will have the opportunity to vote in the 2012 Global Democratic Primary to confirm President Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States and to vote for Democratic Convention delegates. Voting will be held on Saturday May 5th, from 1:00-5:00 PM at the Arlington Hotel, Dublin 1.

“US citizens will be able to exercise their sacred right to vote from 3,000 miles away here in Dublin,” said Dennis Desmond, Chair of Democrats Abroad Ireland.

“We will be joined on the 5th by two special guests: President Obama’s cousin, Henry Healy, and his local publican in Moneygall, Ollie Hayes. They are going to share with us their extraordinary experience of reuniting with President Obama in Washington, DC on St. Patrick’s Day this year.” The Moneygall men will give their chat at 3:00 PM. Americans will be able to register to vote and cast their ballots all afternoon.

Larry Donnelly, Legal Counsel to Democrats Abroad Ireland and an IrishCentral columnist, believes that many people with American citizenship living in Ireland may be unaware of their right to exercise their vote from outside the United States.

“The exceptional and ongoing flow of emigration between Ireland and the US means many people in Ireland are eligible to vote in US elections, but don’t even know it,” he said. “No matter where in the world an American lives, he or she has the right to vote in US elections.”

Dennis Desmond confirmed that “all those living in Ireland who were born in the United States or hold US passports are eligible to vote in US elections. Additionally, many children 18 years and older on Election day whose parents who hold American citizenship may be eligible to vote, depending on where their parents last lived in the US.

“It means so much to be able to fully participate in the American electoral process from so far away. Democrats who live outside of the US are fully represented by Democrats Abroad.” Dennis Desmond noted that Republicans do not extend the same representation to members of their party who live abroad.

Along with voting for Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for President, US citizens in Ireland will also vote for delegates from Democrats Abroad to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina in September. Three Irish residents are candidates for Convention delegates.

More information about voting eligibility can be found at www.votefromabroad.org.